Who / What
Eels are ray-finned fish belonging to the biological order Anguilliformes. They are usually predatory and undergo considerable development from the larval to the adult stage.
Background & History
Eels are classified within the order Anguilliformes, which is a long-established taxonomic grouping. The order consists of eight suborders, 20 families, 164 genera, and about 1000 species. The term "eel" is historically also applied to various other eel-shaped fish from different taxonomic groups.
Why Notable
The order Anguilliformes is notable for encompassing a vast diversity of approximately 1000 species of true eels. They are significant as predators within their aquatic ecosystems. Furthermore, their complex life cycle, involving considerable development from larvae, is a key subject of biological study.
In the News
*Information on current relevance or recent developments is not provided in the source data.*
